When you walk into The Yard, you’re bound to meet some inspiring people—but none quite like Pat Farrell. At 72 years old, Pat isn’t just redefining what aging looks like—she’s preparing for her first ever powerlifting competition. Oh, and she’s a nun. And a vegan. And stronger than most people half her age.
We sat down with Pat for a quick Q&A to learn more about what drives her, how she trains, and what she’s discovered since joining The Yard. Her presence is electric, her mindset is unmatched, and her story reminds us that powerful habits—not age—define what’s possible.
Meet Pat Farrell
Pat joined The Yard earlier this year with one bold goal: to train for and compete in her first powerlifting meet. Her passion for strength training, clean eating, and compassionate living is evident in every rep she lifts. She trains in our private pods, prioritizes consistency, and embodies what it means to build strength from the inside out.
Whether you’re 22 or 72, Pat’s story proves that the right environment—and the right mindset—can change everything.
Q: What inspired you to start powerlifting, and what made you choose The Yard as your training home?
I learned several years ago that I liked training with weights more than aerobic exercise. The very first time I did a deadlift and bent over and picked up a barbell, I was like “wow!”. At one point, I thought I needed a trainer to do this well. The trainer I found had experience with bodybuilding and powerlifting, which inspired me to work toward some sort of competition.
I tried a big box gym, and while I was excited to finally get started, I found that I was frustrated with the experience of the space being overcrowded and difficult to get access to a rack and barbell. Since I was new, I was also hoping to get someone to spot me, especially on my bench press, but didn’t really seem possible at that gym. That experience led me to look around for other gyms, which is when I discovered The Yard was only four blocks from my house. While more of premium price, it had everything I needed, including friendly staff members like Jake. Not only did he spot me, he also told me all about their new powerlifting group that was training for a meet. The team support was exactly what I was looking for–walking in there reminds me of the show “Cheers!” where everybody knows your name. There’s a sense of community I appreciate that you just don’t find in a big gym.
Q: You’re a nun and a vegan—how do those parts of your identity influence the way you train and live?
One of our Dominican sisters was a great marathoner. Looking at her life and the life of our other sisters, I realized that it’s about consistency. Whether it’s your spiritual practices and how we live, it’s about being present and consistent in everything we do. That applies to working out, nutrition, and everything else we do in life.
I’ve been a vegan for about 12 years and I’m in it for the animals. I’ve found that eating primarily plants has given me good health. I’m 72 years old and I don’t take any medication at all. No diabetes, no high cholesterol, no blood pressure medication, which I count that to my diet. I also make it a point to get at least 10k steps per day. Between my diet and steps, those bumpers I put around my life really help me succeed.
Q. What has surprised you most about your powerlifting journey so far?
The gains! I shared a before and after picture with Joe, and I was like “Oh my God, what happened?” You don’t see it until you do a comparison. It was pretty incredible. The other thing is that I’m lifting so much heavier than when I started in my living room, trying to lift 45 pounds. I’ve made gains in a short amount of time.
Q. Do you have any daily or weekly habits that help you stay consistent and focused on your goals?
What I’ve learned is that it’s helpful to have a goal. In this case, it’s the powerlifting competition. That keeps me going to the gym 3-4 times per week to lift. One of things that helps me is the way it’s structured at The Yard. If I want the pods down by the desk for a spotter, I just need to be intentional to make my appointment. And I’m going to keep my appointment because I’ve made an appointment. That really helps me to stay disciplined. It’s also really easy to show up when there are so many happy, supportive people around. It also helps me to track things. When I stop tracking, it all starts to dissipate and it’s harder to go back when you’ve lost momentum. Tracking everything helps me.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who feels like they’re “too old” to start strength training?
There are many women and men who are my age and older who are lifting heavier than I am. We can be both inspired and intimidated by that. You don’t just start by hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney, you work up to it by getting used to incline and altitude so you can achieve your goal. So it might be starting with five pound weights. There’s always something we can do to work toward our goals.
Final Thoughts
At The Yard, we believe strength is for everyone—at every age, at every level. Pat is living proof that it’s never too late to start something new, train with intention, and surprise yourself. And next time you’re in the gym, say hi to Pat—she just might inspire your next PR.
